Foster carers say children are "distressed" and suffering after having visits to their biological parents cut by up to 80 per cent.

Department of Child Protection and Family Support figures reveal that the number of children in care in WA increased by almost 200 between 2012 and 2013, but that was met with just 1.4 full-time workers.

In the three years prior at least 40 case workers were added to the system each year.

One foster parent told Fairfax Media he believed any cutbacks in visits with biological parents were harmful to childrens' psychological wellbeing.

Case workers have told foster carers in WA they are being forced by the state government to reduce visits to just four times a year, for children not allowed to return to their biological parents permanently.

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The Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association said the decision was a result of under-resourcing.

"The information we have from foster carers is that the ability for the case worker to spend time with them and their child has diminished over quite a long period of time," said CPSU/CSA branch assistant secretary Rikki Hendon.

"Specifically we've been advised by foster parents there's been a decision as of July this year to limit the number of visits."

The Department's Viewpoint survey of 921 children in care in Western Australia in the 12 months before July 2013 found that "49 per cent of children said they see their family as much as they want to".

In announcing the results of the survey in parliament, Minister for Child Protection and Family Support Helen Morton admitted "there is more to be done".

Ms Hendon is concerned about the 51 per cent of children who do not see their biological family as much as they would like.

One foster parent told Fairfax Media he believed any cutbacks in visits were harmful to childrens' psychological wellbeing.

"The effects are devastating," Mr Smith* said.

"Children are feeling vulnerable and they're not necessarily getting the support they need."

He said delays and changes in children's routines had a negative impact on their behaviour at home and school.

He also reported experiencing first hand frustrations in dealing with the department, waiting in the emergency department for hours to treat his child and often experiencing delays of up to a month for allowance or visits approval.

The lack of departmental funding is putting pressure on overloaded case workers, says the union.

"Our members have been saying to us for a very long time that they have a huge workload problem," Ms Hendon said.

"They're concerned about what that's going to mean for their ability to do their job properly and a number of them are concerned that eventually a child will slip through the cracks because they are too overworked.

"There are just not enough of them to go around and eventually something bad will happen."

Ms Hendon said the number of case workers needed to grow in proportion to the number of children in care.

But according to the Department, the average number of cases per caseworker remained below the limit – at 12.3 per worker.

"The Department recognises that the work it does is difficult and stressful for staff, and as such caseloads are set by a ruling of the State Industrial Commission at a limit of 15 and 18 in exceptional circumstances," said Department for Child Protection and Family Support director general Terry Murphy.

"These are the lowest known case load limits nationally and internationally."

Mr Murphy denied that any blanket ruling had been made to limit childrens' visits to their biological parents and said it was not always in the child's best interests to see their biological parents as often as they'd like.

"Many children in care would like to see their birth families to a greater extent," he said.

"However due to the nature of the relationship, which resulted in the child being brought into care in the first place, it can be detrimental to the child to do so."

Mr Smith said it was still important for children to maintain their biological ties.

"Making sure children still have a relationship with their biological family has to be the priority regardless of how long they're going to be in care," he said.

"They need to understand where they came from and what sense of belonging is."

* The foster carer requested to remain anonymous to protect the identity of the child in his care.

1 comment

Barnett privatised the Dept of Child Protection and Communities three years ago. A whole workforce of experienced and committed workers has been lost—from experienced policy makers and caseworkers to well-trained and supported field welfare workers. Now it's a dwindling army of newly qualified Cert 4s, chasing hours and contracts, who are only in it for John Howard's permanent residency status.